Sabattus Man Charged with Sexual Abuse

A Sabattus man has been charged with sexually abusing a girl over a four-year period starting when she was 9 years old. Michael Gagnier remained in the Androscoggin County Jail on Thursday on $50,000 cash bail following his arrest earlier in the week on a charge of gross sexual assault. Police tell the Sun Journal, that the girl told a youth worker at a Lewiston church about the alleged abuse, and the worker informed child protection authorities. According to court documents, when confronted by a child protection caseworker and the police, the 33-year-old Gagnier acknowledge the abuse. The father of three blamed it on his addiction to prescription painkillers. He allegedly told police the contact included intercourse and he would often pray with the girl in an effort to stop.